Ok, we need to look at it this way. While I think he is pretty much done and like just about everyone would hope that he is "not quite done" we have to look at production vs. salary cap.

The amount of money we are paying him is not even close to justification for the return we get. We have way too many players to re-sign (might have to include Decker now after yesterday's game--without him we likely don't win that game). We have to use that cap money for our other needs. Champ is a "luxury" that just can't be afforded based on the return we have been getting and will get over the rest of this season--even if he comes back and plays relatively well for a few games.

Ok, we need to look at it this way. While I think he is pretty much done and like just about everyone would hope that he is "not quite done" we have to look at production vs. salary cap.

The amount of money we are paying him is not even close to justification for the return we get. We have way too many players to re-sign (might have to include Decker now after yesterday's game--without him we likely don't win that game). We have to use that cap money for our other needs. Champ is a "luxury" that just can't be afforded based on the return we have been getting and will get over the rest of this season--even if he comes back and plays relatively well for a few games.

Champ as had a good run. He was continually burned in the Ravens game last year that cost us the title and this year has been pathetic for the production vs. salary cap. We need DRC, Decker and others signed to deals to make this team relevant. I agreed with the Dumerville pay realignment, don't know why we didn't take the same stance with Champ this last year.

Hard to get back into shape when you're constantly returning to the sideline to nurse the injury of the moment.

I haven't given up hope that he returns to full-strength and that when he does so he will be as good as he was last season, but it's becoming very hard to see that happening this year. When he's been in this season it seems like he's just been burnt on comeback routes and throws to the sideline over and over again until he heads to the sideline himself with an injury.

Assuming that his body isn't completely giving up on him, I think there's definitely a spot on this team for the guy. He's as good a tackler as we've had for years and aside from blitzing the QB could theoretically bring to our secondary something like Woodson offers the Raiders.

No doubt Champ has faced a lot of adversity due to injuries this year. Still, I believe that it's unfair to judge him after one game in which he had limited playing time -- when he cannot possibly be back in "football shape". We can talk about how "he should retire" if he's still struggling when we get to the playoffs.

Whether on a limited play count or just getting back into game shape, Champ deserves to be judged after playing more than 1 game back. Outside of ONE game just last year, Champ was dominant. Still. Yes, he needs to get healthy, but he also gets some leeway because of that.

It's not like we're going to cut Champ right in the middle of the season.

I hate to say it, but Champ Bailey needs to get his retirement papers in order, because this needs to be his last season.

There was a time when I thought Denver could convert him to a safety and maybe buy another two years. But after watching him get injured (yet again) on the 2nd play from scrimmage against KC today, I'm afraid that even a safety role is more than his body can handle.

Champ has been one of my favorite players over the last decade, but guys like Richard Sherman are now the yardstick for "Shut-Down Corners" and Champ is just a shadow of his old self.

WTF am I reading and WTF is this thread?

- Champ gave up just 4 receptions - 2 or 3 on small gains on quick inside slants where he had very good coverage but the bigger WR/TE just jerked inside.

- Yes he got hurt (abs I think) but played for almost all the snaps, barring obvious run downs till midway through the 3rd quarter.

- He was matched up Bowe most of the time and only gave up one/two small receptions to him.

- When Champ went off the field for KC's last two drives and we had Webster/Jammer outside that's when KC started moving the chains, unlike before when they couldn't do sh*t in the passing game because Champ took Bowe out completely.

Also, Smith looked to his right at least two/three times when KC went into punt mode and each time Champ had tight coverage on Bowe, and it forced Smith to go to his 2nd read.

Smith/KC wanted to target Champ this game but apart from 3/4 small receptions Bailey held up very well for a guy who's missed three months of football.

How about before people start putting up garbage they back it up with some facts like how many times he was targetted? How many big plays he gave up? How many snaps did he play and against which WR?

Champ has done the most important thing so far this season: Get back on the field without any physical setbacks. We've got 4 weeks for him to get his conditioning back up, get into better shape and we roll into the playoffs with two cover corners in DRC/Champ lined up outside and Harris inside.

Ok, we need to look at it this way. While I think he is pretty much done and like just about everyone would hope that he is "not quite done" we have to look at production vs. salary cap.

The amount of money we are paying him is not even close to justification for the return we get. We have way too many players to re-sign (might have to include Decker now after yesterday's game--without him we likely don't win that game). We have to use that cap money for our other needs. Champ is a "luxury" that just can't be afforded based on the return we have been getting and will get over the rest of this season--even if he comes back and plays relatively well for a few games.

Yes- Champ is probably done after this year unless he wants to make pennies on the dollar and play a much more diminshed role.

Its been great to have him all of these years, but time and age awlays catch up.

Also, Smith looked to his right at least two/three times when KC went into punt mode and each time Champ had tight coverage on Bowe, and it forced Smith to go to his 2nd read.

Smith/KC wanted to target Champ this game but apart from 3/4 small receptions Bailey held up very well for a guy who's missed three months of football.

How about before people start putting up garbage they back it up with some facts like how many times he was targetted? How many big plays he gave up? How many snaps did he play and against which WR?

Champ has done the most important thing so far this season: Get back on the field without any physical setbacks. We've got 4 weeks for him to get his conditioning back up, get into the better shape and we roll into the playoffs with two cover corners in DRC/Champ lined up outside and Harris inside.

Which dumba$$ here wouldn't want that?

Again, seriously, take this thread and dump it in the gutter.

No kidding. We've gotten like five of these threads this season for every time he's taken an extra week to come back from injury. Now he plays on a limited schedule like a guy they want ease back in and we get another ****ing "he's finished" thread.

It's just bizarre how borderline giddy a few Broncos fans on here are to bury the best thing to happen to this franchise post-Elway/pre-Manning. They can't just raise concerns about if he will be able to bounce back—they have to shout loudly that he needs to be axed.

Idiot response, at least give reason why you think the way you do. Atleast the guy went on record.. which is more then I can say you did... Didn't you make some of the most retarded statements earlier this year?

Champs done. Thank you for your service. It is my opinion that he lived on his name for years. I remember it all started with Champ can't hang with the double move. after that he was exposed. He never did Denver favors by taking less salary to get the championship he wanted, Even after Peyton signed. Enjoy retirement

"It is my opinion that he lived on his name for years."
bingo ! QBs just looked elswhere and found paths of less resistance.
champ has been living off of reputation for at least the last 3 years.
now, he is the guy with a bulls-eye on his jersey, front and back.
he coulkd have been a tremendous safety and added 20more INTs to his resume, instead he was content to follow decoys to the bathroom every sunday and pick up his paycheck for being ignored.

Also, Smith looked to his right at least two/three times when KC went into punt mode and each time Champ had tight coverage on Bowe, and it forced Smith to go to his 2nd read.

Smith/KC wanted to target Champ this game but apart from 3/4 small receptions Bailey held up very well for a guy who's missed three months of football.

How about before people start putting up garbage they back it up with some facts like how many times he was targetted? How many big plays he gave up? How many snaps did he play and against which WR?

Champ has done the most important thing so far this season: Get back on the field without any physical setbacks. We've got 4 weeks for him to get his conditioning back up, get into the better shape and we roll into the playoffs with two cover corners in DRC/Champ lined up outside and Harris inside.

Which dumba$$ here wouldn't want that?

Again, seriously, take this thread and dump it in the gutter.

fellow bronco fan, fontaine,' I rtespect your opinion but your emotions are making you delusional on this one if you think CHAMP is still a viable 1 on 1 cover corner.
he has NEVER played prerss coverage, he cant hang with ANY deep threat, he cant deny ANY TE the ball on ANY typical TE route.
I thnk he could learn the free safety position, play 'centerfield' and use his savvy, ball skills, tackling ability, and years of knowledge and instincts to be an ed reed kind of contributor, but that is a move he should have made years ago!

Will Champ be back with the Broncos next season at his current cap number- not likely.

However I am only concerned with this season, and this season he can help us win the SB. It would have been stupid to play him in all of the defensive snaps in his first game back. Come playoff time he might be back in his usual starting role though, which would be good for us.

Ok, we need to look at it this way. While I think he is pretty much done and like just about everyone would hope that he is "not quite done" we have to look at production vs. salary cap.

The amount of money we are paying him is not even close to justification for the return we get. We have way too many players to re-sign (might have to include Decker now after yesterday's game--without him we likely don't win that game). We have to use that cap money for our other needs. Champ is a "luxury" that just can't be afforded based on the return we have been getting and will get over the rest of this season--even if he comes back and plays relatively well for a few games.

yesterdays game?
champ is now our cooper.
thats reality people.
QBs will be targeting champ.
he knows it... thats why he is so willing to come off the field.

You're kidding right blueflame? Champ has had all offseason and all this yr to get healthy. He just can't do it. There is an outside chance he could make a comeback next yr but comparing him to a young player like Von is silly.

He's had all off season to get healthy? He got injured in the preseason. Some injuries take a while to come back from even for younger players. Even if this injury keeps him limited this season I don't see any reason to think actually having an off season to recover from this injury couldn't get him back on the field.

Know what? Von didn't look -- "dominating" (nothing like he's playing now) -- when he first came back after his 6-game break. Hasn't Champ earned at least a couple of active weeks to get into "football shape" before we fans simply write him off as "washed up"? He's been injured most of the year and it's (IMHO) an unrealistic expectation to think he should be back out there shutting down his side of the field (like he does when he's 100%) in his very first quarter of play against a division rival in their house.

I mean really? Of course he's gonna play if healthy the rest of the year. K am talking about moving forward